Knot sealing machine



Jam. 15, 1946.

G. F; NEILS KNotl1` SEALING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1942 2 sheds-sheet 1ERHARD F. NEiLS INV NTOR.

- ,ATTORNEY Jan, E, i946., G. F. Nang@ 2,3292? l y KNOT SEALING MACHINEFiled June' 15, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 TOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 15, 1946 UNITED STATES Piiii-1l?,N.1f-*OFilcEfffQ'` l KNorsEaLING Gerhard F. Neils, Klickitat, Wash. Y

f Applieationiune 16, 19in-sealen. 447,255'A l,

(CLIM-2) A 16 claims.

This invention relates to apparatus fortreating defects in wood, and hasparticular reference to a machine forsecuring knots in lumber and woodproducts in general by forcing cementitious filling material intoVcracks Y and spaces in and around knots whereby they are fastenedpermanently in place.

With the depletion of forest reserves, attention is being given to thematter of so treating lumber as to obtain the m'ost economicalutilization thereof. This is particularly true with respect to the lowergrades of lumber, which comprise the greater percentage of the totalmill output, and which is defective and unsuitable for many uses solelyby reason of knots extending therethrough'. The grain of knots extendsat right angles with respect to thegrain of the surrounding wood, andhence lthe wood of the knots tends to dry or season faster than the restof the board. The resulting shrinkl, ageof the knot causesoit to pullaway from the surrounding wood, developing cracks and spaces through theknot and therearound, and loosening theknot tol such an extentrthat itmay fall from the board leaving' a hole therein. Such shrinkage anddropping out is particularly common with black knots, that is, knotsresulting from'growth of the wood about dead branches, in whichcase thewood of the knot is not firmly bonded to the Wood thereabout. Boardshaving such 4knots therein are customarily degraded at the mill and areusually segregated for'remanufacture into small dimension stock such asbox shook, sash and door stock, or the like, in which procedure l theportions of the lumber containing the unsound knots are thrown out asscrap. Such procedure not only results in the wastage of a considerableVamount of wood, but the price of the salvaged sound stockisconsiderably increased due to high remanufacturing c osts. If, on theother hand, such knots are so treated as to prevent their becoming looseand falling from the lumber, the soundness of the board is greatlyincreased and its serviceability extended many fold.

l In Letters .Patent No. 2,335,528, issued to me November 30, 1943, isdisclosed a method for 4treating knots in lumber so as substantially to"prevent their becoming loose and falling out, and "which methodincludes the step .of forcing a cementitious filling material into thechecks and cracks. in and about the knots in a piece of lumber, whichmaterial, upon setting, permanently secures the knots in place. It is ageneral object of the presentvinvention, therefore, to provide aW-eadgipriored apparatus ,for carrying out the sure head so thattherevwill be e L ese-lief' the allemagne;

method disclosed inthe panion application. .t i

More specifically stated, it isan object of the present invention toprovide a new and improved apparatus for forcing cementitious llingmaterial into cracks and' spaces irland around knots in a piece of'lumber whereby they maybe substantially permanently secured in place.

Av further object of the invention is..to provide a new and improvedmachine for applying a ceabove identified comfmentitious lling materialto one end of a knot extending through a piece of lumber under asufiicient pressure for substantially filling the cracks and spaces inand around such knots, the apparatusbeing so designed that alminimum'wastage of Vfilling materialoccurs through the operation of themachine. i Y 1 A' still further object of the invention is to provideajnew and improved machine for applying a cementitious killing materialto and-end ofa knot extending through a piece of lumberl for securingthe knot iirmly in position, which machine issrelativelyY rugged. fastin operation, and simply and easily controlled. Y

In accordance withgthe illustrated embodiment of the invention, themachine comprises a stationary support having a table for rmlysupporting a. section of a board thereupon. Secured upon Aa. bracketoverhanging the table is a pressure head operable bya servo-motorandhaving areciproeating movement relative to the upper surface of theboard positioned therebeneath. The h eads so 4designed that when itis'moved into engagement with the board, the lower surface thereof formsa substantially sealed chamber surrounding the upper endofuaknctextending through the board.k :VA passage is provided throughthe head through which a s nitable cementitious lfilling material is fedinto the t'shamber under asuicient pressure so-that the-material isforced into all the spaces andv cracksin' and about the knot.l iTheVilling material supplied from a suitablereservoirbya pressureimposingdevice'arranged in ,a

.rangement conduitlrconnected to the: passage inthe movable head. Themachine further includes. the'arv of an l automatically I operable istopvalve in the head, a control valve'inthe-high pressure conduit, acontrol means for theservo-motor, the control valve and servo-motorcontrolmeans being further connectedsfor operationthrough a manual`controller so'designed asv toi ns ure that the ow of lling materialthrough thehead Vis Properly timed with themovement of the, presa wast-.eeetml .system for the machine is also so designed that the propersequence of operation follows automatically upontieers andadvantages.of`V tnexinvention will appear from thefollowing description,taken in connection with` the accompanyingznf drawings, while thefeatures of noveltyugharacy terizing the invention will be set forthinthe claims appended hereto. Y

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a.

'side elevation of a knot sealing machine constructed 'in' accordancewith one form of the invention; .Figure .2

is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine shown'. in .Figure i...showing. l.the arrangement .of the operating switches; Figure :3.is`ianenlarged sectional `.view of fthe pressure` head, vtaken. along the line13-:3-.3 of-Figurefl-;-Figure 4 is va'iragmentary: view .of the headcorresponding to vFigure '3, shown rin asecondupositionoi adjustmentthereof; Figure '5 isan'enlargedyiew illustrating certain details of themachinecontrolarrangement; Figure 6 `is a 'longitudinal sectional :view:ofthe controlfvalvel shown in--Figure f5; Figure '-'7 lis la .cross.sectionalview of a portion of the pump mechanism shown inFigure l.`

@Referring toi .the drawings, the `machine comprises. a stationary.support including legs l0 and a table Il forsupportinga portion of aboard such as'i2 thereupon in a-substantially horizontal position. It isto be understood that the opposite end portions ofthe board mayi .besupported either upon suitable side extensions of the table Il or `'uponany. other suitable supportingineans.

Mounted upon the end'of 'a bracketfarrnf -l3 'overhanging the.v tablelil lor movement perpen- .dicularly thereof is a pressure head I4. Inthe specic arrangementshown the-head -l isfcarried uponthe. lower endiofplunger 4-5 secured to the piston Vl5 of Ja servo-motor I8. LThe headmay bebased .upwardly-by spring 19 arranged within the lower end ofthe'servo-motor cylinder. While aservo-motorisfshownfor:reciprocatingthe head Minto' and out-of engagement with respect to the upper-surfaceofthe 'boardflijitwillbe understoodvthat anysuitable motor-means may beprovided for accomplishing such movement. *Y Oper- Aatingsiluidfor the`servo-motor I8 may be ysup- .pli'edthroughiconduit 2l and controlvalvef22. `The control valve 22 may be oran-y suitable type Lsuch fasthe electromagnetically operabledevice indicated,having a pairjof'heads23a-nd 24 umounte'diupon a stem 25' and slidably arrangedwithina'cylinder`26iv The valve heads are-nor- .'mally biased l-t'o theright by means of a suitable frspring 28, iniwlfiich'fposition; theconduit 2| "communicates with exhaustgport "29." Upon -energi-`fzationof the `solenoid-3i thervalve vheads 'are vvshifted to the left,closing theexhaust port 29'and `connectingconduit 2pl`fi'withthe inletport 32'for supplying suitable pressure operating fluid to theservo-motoria. l y j `"`-1'Ihefheadf H- comprises "generally a conduitAmeans whichf,- when forced into engagement. with l"the upper surface ofYthc'r'bl'-1iard 12,7effects' a, sub- "'stantial seal therewith l aboutrthe f conduit kopening so #that i a* cementitious fk filling materialfed Itherethroughjontothe upperjsurface of the board fvTe'zciiiiiiedunderpressureA7141 withinr the' predeter- '65 Q the table;,The insert su is heid nrmiy .in piace mined area. In the specific formshown in detail in Figure 3, the head I4 is made from a round block 35,the upper surface of which is provided with a shaft extension 36 adaptedto be secured to the lower end 31 of the servo-motor plunger .1preferably of varying heights, as shown in this ,n instance, the innerknife edge 39 being higher 'than "theadjacent outer knife edge 40.V Asthe head ismored into engagement with the upper Asurface"of the board l2the knife edges embed themselvesinwthefwood surface forming asubstantially sealed chamber 42 between the upper surface of the boardand the lower surface oi.' the headl.. Y x n f f.

.l Foreeding the :filler rmaterial linto':theehamiier t2., a passage'providedthrough the head Mis formedV by a `tran-svr-zrse bore 4113having an inlet openingi, .and a ycentral bore 4I extending iupwardlyIrom'the lower :surface of the head and communicating with thetransverse' bore 43. Mounted within the passage is a valve 45 normallybiased .tothe closedpcsition byl spring 46. A vstem 41 slidahly arrangedwithinliche-bushings `i8 and threadedinto .cooperating portions-of thebore M, the stemt] having an .enlarged head v5,1 at .the lower .endthereofwith a .shoulder 52 normally biased by spring' into engagementwith theflangeportlon' of. the bushing :die *In .the seated position.ofthe valvethe lower yend lof v the Ienlarged head. 51 depends slightlybelow the .lower surface of the head i4 and is adapted -to be engagedruponmovement .of the lhead .downwardly into l.engageineirtwith theupper `surface ofthe :board 12; VEngagementwith the' board moves thestem '1H lupwardly andunseats the valve ill, `tlmieby permitting iillermaterial toA flow vthrough the ,slot 55 provided in one sideaof thestem.l1 and through 5B .provided in one side Ioil the .enlarged head 51|;inte. the .chamber 42 .formed abovethesurface lof the board i2.

:Because .of the'V fact that .the checks and cracks throughand ahum'.the knot inthe board Vgenerally extend the iength ofthe knot, that is,:from oneside of the board-tothe other, provisiongmust be inadestorpreventing free ownf the :filling material :therethrough in order that asuitable pressure will be lbuilt up .tofinsure 'au ...complete lling ofthe .smaller crevices. It :will -readily be understood that-.unless--asuitable hacking is provided onv the reverse side of the board, thelling material fwill follow the f-path -oi least resistance .through theknot without any -appreciable. .pressure vbeing built -upn therewithin.

As shown more clearlyA in the views `of --Figures and-4thetable llisprovided .with a -disc'insert '60, the uppersurface of` which.extendssomewhat beneath theplane of Vthe upper surface of by means'ofsuitable screws .El extending. 11p- "wardly Ithrough a cfiopeialiirg`opening. inthe 4table l'l.- A *The upper surface of. the insertisprovided wlth an lupwardly` extending continuous -knife edged4protrusiovnV i2, .the uppermost edge of vwhich extends Vsomewhat abovethezplanejof -thetable 4H and defines? a recess centrally of the so thatwhen the .head |4v is forced. downwardly into' engagement withV theupper surface of the board I2 lthe knife edged protrusion52 is embeddedin the lower surface of the board toform asubstantially sealed chamber63 about .the lower end of the knot.. Preferably only a single knifeedge 62 is provided on the insert 60 so that the chamberS will Vbesealed less tightly than the upper chamber 42 in order that .air maybedisplaced from the region between the head. I4 andthe` table top,including that fromthe cracks and spaces in and aboutthe knot in theboard, which air may escape past the knife edge 62. TheA seal .thusprovided, however, is.V suiiiciently tight so as substantially toprevent leakage of the. cementitious filling material therepast and-permitspa relatively highpressure to be built up between the twochambers 42, B3, resulting in a complete filling of all spaces withinthe knot withlittle or no wastageof thelling material.

The cementitious iilling material may be supplied to the pressure headI4 by any/,suitable means from a reservoir 10 mounted at the rear ofrthe machine. As shown, the reservoir .10 is in the form of a gravityfiowhopper which feeds through connection 1| into the cylinder of anautomatic pumping device 12. The details of' the device I2 form no partof the present invetnion, such devices being well known in the art, andonly the essential details of the pump head thereof are illustrated inthe enlarged cross sectional view of Figure 7. The pump head comprises atubular member 13 provided with a pump cylinder 14 fitted closelytherewithin and withnrwhich cylinder is slidably mounted piston 'I5operatively connected to the end of a shaft 16 extending from theoperating mechanism of the device 12. Material from the hopper 10 lowingthrough the connection 1| is admitted into the cylinder 14 through theside port-.'18 and by reciprocation of the piston15 is forced from :thedischarge end thereof past the check valve 19 into the high pressureconduit 8|.r For controlling the iiow f the filler material from thehigh pressure conduit 8 i l to the pressure. head I4, a control valvemechanism 83 is provided and whichV is connected for operation by anelectromagnetic device 84. The control valve. 83 and the electromagneticoperator 84 arek mounted upon a backing plate 85 which in turn issuitably secured to the end of the bracket arm yI3 adjacent theservo-motor I8. Referring more particularly to the views of Figures and6,1the valve mechanism 83 comprises a housing 81` having an inletpassage 88 andan outlety passage 89 formed therein. Arranged between theinletV and outlet passages is a valve 9| normally biased to the closedposition by means of a spring 92, which valve is operable to the openedposition by a plunger 93 normally biased in the direction away from thevalve by a spring 94. The end of the plunger 93 adjacent the valve 9| isguided within a cooperating opening provided in the web 95 of thecylindrical member 96, while the opposite end of Athe plunger isslidable within a cooperating bore provided in the bushing 91. Thespring 94 is compressed between the web 95 and pin 98 extending throughthe plunger 93. The plunger 93 is operable to the left as viewed inFigure 6 for unseating the valve 9| by -means of a stem.99 projectingfrom the outer end of the bushing 91, suitable packing |0| beingprovided between =the adjacent ends of the stem 99 and the plunger 93invorder to preclude leakage Aofi filler material through thebu`shin`g91.

."rThe electromagneticr'operating device 84`may beio'f 'any suitabletype 'including an armature I|02-which may` be Vconnected as at |03 tothe end-'ofa lever.v |04 pivoted as at |05 to the backing plate 85.'Threaded'into an upstanding boss 'I 06 and secured Irelative .thereto bylock `nut |01 is alpin|08-whichis adapted Vto engage with the end ofthestemv 99! projecting from the valve mechanism 83.y ."Ifhe` lever |04l isnormally ybiased away-from-theLvalve mechanism by meansI of a spring|09surrounding the adjacent ends of the stem.99.and .pin f|09and compressedbetween the bushing 9,1andtheboss |06. LUpon energization ofthe windingof. the electromagnetic device 84, theA lever. |04- ismoved in thecounterclockwise direction about the pivot |05, depressing the stem 99,movingthe `plunger into engagement withi-the valve 9|. to cause theopening thereof. Fillerf material under high pressure is thereuponpermitted vto Ypass from theinlet passage 98 through the opening I inthe web and opening ||2 through the cylindrical member` 96 into theoutlet passage89. From the outlet passage |39v the filler material isconducted through the flexible tubing l I3 4to the inlet 4|. of thepressure head I4. Upon the deenergization of the electromagnetic device84 spring |09v shifts the lever |04 away from the valve stem 99permitting it to be moved to the right under force of the spring 94which in turn will permit closure of the valve 9|. With this arrangementof the control valve a-t the end of the high pressure conduit 8|, theiexible tube ||3 and the pressure head "I4 will notfbe subjected to highIpressures during periods of inoperation of the machine. Forcontrolling'the operation of the machine a manual control lever such asa foot pedal |20 is provided which may be pivoted at one end |2| to oneof the front legs of the support Ill` A pair of switches |22 `and |23are arranged beneath the lever |20 for actuation thereby, and which areconnected through pairs of conductors |24 and |25, respectively, tothesolenoids of the electromagnetc'devices 3| and 84. The circuits |24 and|25 may b e suitably connected to a source of supply; indicated'byconductors |26. The switches |22'and |23 'are' so arranged with respectto the lever` |20` that upon operation of the lever the solenoidSl willbe energized rst to admit operatingfluidv to the servo-motor I8 forlowering the pressure. head I4 onto the upper surface of the board|2-slight1y'in advance of the movement of the valve mechanism'f'83 totheopen position. 1t is also preferred thatY the control valve 83 be closedslightly in advance ofthe movement of the pressure head I4 away fromthe-board I2. Any suitable means maybe provided for effectingsuchsequence of energization for the electromagnetic devices 3| and 84such as the arrangement shown, ink which the switch |22 is arranged'closer to the end |2| of lever |20 than the switch |23. Thus it will beobvious that the switch |22 will be engaged and moved to the closedposition in advance of the similar operation of switch |23 and Vwill bemaintained in such condition until after the switch |23 is Areleased foropen circuit movement. Withthe arrangement of apparatus as described, asubstantially constant predetermined high pressure is maintained Withinthe supply conduit 8| by virtue of the pumping devicer 12, but this'highpressure normally extends only as far as thecontrol valve 83. Thepressure head I4 isnormally under little or no pressure, though thestcpvalve 45precludes leakage'of the filling material from the pressure.headwllfduringgiuch periodsgof time .as when the boardl isbeing ad.-justedupon the table Il sonstobring theknots into alignment beneath `thepressure head Il, Also ,when there are nolboardswupon theltable leakagey,of material .onto .the table top is substantially precluded. Upon the.closure foffthe 'switch |22 and energization'ioffthe solenidizl.,voperating fluid is admitted throughtl naiven .to the servo-.motor i8,Vwhereupon'...the ipressme head is moved .downwardly intocengagement the.upper surface .of theboard '12. .Initial zenigagement with the uppersurfaced: the board is .rstzeiected by the inner. knife edged protrusion3,9 which embeds beneath :the board. surf face. .Continued :downwardVmovement fof 'the pressure head I-l will edect Athe engagement fwithtl'ieboard .aof the lower rend of the lTread 5.1 :ofthe stopwalveoperating stem. 41,;.the -lurbzvardv movev ment of which'causesunseating Lof the stop waive 45.: Substantially simultaneously, theouter-knife vredged.-protrusion lli) will more into contactwith theupper .surface of the board, augmenting the protmsion 39 in thetormatlonof la substantially tighl'l seal for thefchamber :421surrounding the upper -end of the knotl in'thelboardsur'face be'-neaththe pressure head'. lDue to the force exerted -by the pressure headthrough the two knife edged protrusions 39 and lil!! lupon the uppersurface of the board, the board will be driven down upon the'circularknife edged `l-pro'trusion 62 extending upwardly from the vtable H andwhich 'will 4become embedded in the lower slu'ace 'ci Vthe board aboutthe end `of the knot y'opposite the pressure head. After the `stopvalvef is moved 'tothe opened'position. the closure of thecontrol'switch 123 will effect'the energization of the electromagneticdevice t4 which in turn will open the control valve 8'3 .toy permit aquantity of iiller material to flow from the high lpressure conduit illthrough the connection tube H3 into the pressure head 14. l l

In the V normal operation of the machine, the above described sequencetakes placewithin a very short period of elapsed time merely upon 'thedepressingof the'foot pedal V1.21). By reason of t'nis fact, therate atwhich knots may be treated vso high'thatthe cost ,per Aone'.thousandboard feet'f of lumberfis well Witlilthe range ofeconornic"feasibility.'A

Having describedthe .invention in detail, it is to begunderstood that'such .details are `merely illustrative'ja'ndjthat the inventionv may becarried voutlay.other means.

l. .n machine :forsecuring a knot in apiece of wood, comprising asupport for said piece, a inembe-r Yhai/inga cavitytherein movable .invopposing relation to said support whereby said cavityis causedto coverandenclosean end of aknlct in piece, mea-ns formoving said member awayfrom saidisupport, means f orv moving said kmembertowards said support.to forcibly engage said niece-whereby a. substantially; ,Sealed chamberis formed by. said `cavi-ty. over said knot end, an .inlet insaid'inember communicating with saidcavity for introducing eeinentitiousmaterial into `said sealed chamberunder pressure and meansfor `'forcingsaid mate-rial in to spaces in and around sananet. Y

12. r r machine `f orsecuring-ai knotin lumber, comprising asupport forengaging atleast .a por.- .uoe of .one surfers of ihelumber includingsaid @bereesreeveblsreletireto samsunport intoiensagement with aportionxofthe pp posite surface of .said lumber :and .into surroundingrelation with .respect tothe corresponding endlof v:saidknot means Vforapplying 'a suilcieut pressure between -said support. and .said conduitmeans :so as substantially -to 4sealthe iperiphery ofV said .conduitmeans against :said lumber .surf face, meansjor subsequently feedingcementitious filling. material into .said conduit. means., and means forapplying pressure to `said material suftoicause said material tosubstantially fill .cracks and spacesincand about said knot .through-.out .substantially the .full extent thereof.

, 3. Apparatus for securing `a knot yin lumber which comprises conduitmeans forengagingiwith la `.portion of lone surface of the lumberinsurrounding reiation with respect to thecorresponding .endof said.-knot, means for applying a Apressure to said conduit means :so as toeffect a .substantial :seal between `the periphery thereofand saidlumber surface, means for feeding a. cementit'ious material into .saidconduit means.. means for applying :a high .pressure tozsaid mate-.-rial for .causing said material .substantially to ll cracks and :spacesin Iand 'about said knot, means for :supporting the'surface of `saidlumber opposite said conduit means including means for restrictingflow.of said material .from openings at the opposite .end of said knot.

4. .Apparatus :for securing a J*knot in lumbe which .comprises conduit:means for engaging a portion .of one ,surface of Asaid `lumber in vsur-;rounding relation withrespect to a corresponding .end of saidknot,means forapplying a pressure to :said conduit means as to .effect asubstantial seal V.between the periphery thereof .and the. adjacent.lumber surface, means .for feeding 4a cementitious lling `material.into said lconduit means, means fOlapplying a high pressure .to saidmaterial fed into said conduit means, .a valve for .controlling flow of.said material Yinto said conduit means, -control means for opening saidvalve af-ter said conduit means has been sealed against said lumbersurface, and means for supporting the surface of. said lumber oppositesaid conduit means.

pApparatus for Vsecuring a knot in lumber which comprises conduit meansfor engaging a portion ofone surface of the lumber in .surroundingrelation with respect' to acorresponding end of said knot, asharpenedrim on the end of said conduit, means for applying a pressure to. saidconduit'means whereby said sharpened rim is embedded in said lumbersurface about said knot for effecting a substantial seal between vsaidconduit means 'and said lumber surface, means for .feeding acementitious filling material into said lconduit means, means forapplying a, pressure to said filling material suiiicent to cause saidmaterial substantially to ll. cracks and spaces in and .about saidknot., a valve forrcontrolling flow of .saidmaterial into said conduitmeans, means for supporting the surface of saidlumber opposite :saidconduit means, said supporting means including means defining asubstantially sealed chamber about the end of said knot opposite saidconduit means. Y

, 6. .A machine for securing knots .in lumber which comprises a. tablesupport for cooperatively receiving aA board thereupon, a pressure .headmoya-bly mounted above said support, means for moving said headdownwardly into engagement 'with said boarcL means depending downwardlyfrom the lower surface o f .said head-.for forming a substantiallysealed-chamber between saidhead and said board surroundingthe upper endcfa of said seal forming means, said valve stem'end being adapted to beengaged by thefuppervsur-n fac'e of said board' for effectingan'opening`movement of said valve subsequent tothe formation of said sealedchamber. 1 i 1 7. A machine for securing, knots in.lumberl whichcomprises 'a table support, a head mounted above said support formovement downwardly into engagement with the upper surface of aboardpositionei on said table, a continuous sharp:

edged protrusion extending downwardly :from the lower surface of saidhead, said protrusion effect.. ing a substantially sealed chamberbetween `the lower surfacel of said head and the upper surface of saidboard as saidv head is moved downwardly into engagement therewith, arecessin saidrtafble aligned with said head, a continuous sharp edgedprotrusion extending upwardly vfrom said table around said recess so asto form a substantially sealed chamber between said `table andthe lowersurface of said board, saidltwo sealed chambers being adapted forsurrounding the opposite-ends of a knot extending through said board,anda passage through said head for conducting cementitious fillingmaterial under pressure to said upper chamber.

8. A machine for securing knots in lumber which comprises a talblesupport, a head mounted above said supportifor movement downwardly intoengagement with the upper surface of a board positioned on said table,means depending from the lower surface of said head for engaging withthe upper surface of a board and forming a substantially sealed chamberbetween said head and said board surface, a passage through said headfor conducting cementitious filling material under pressure into saidchamber, means extending upwardly from said table for engaging with theunderneath surface of said board for forming a substantially sealedchamber between said table and said board, said two chambers formingmeans aligned with each other for surrounding opposite ends of a knotextending through said board.

9. A machine for securing knots in lumber which comprises a tablesupport for receiving a board thereupon, a pressure head mounted abovesaid support for movement at right angles with respect thereto, meansfor moving said head downwardly into engagement with the upper surfaceof said board, a recess in said head for forming an enclosed chamberaround the end of a knot as said head is moved into engagement with theupper surface of said board, a passage through said head for conductinga cementitious filling material under high pressure into said chamber,valve means arranged in said passage, means normally biasing said valveto the closed position, and means associated with said valve forautomatically shifting said valve to the opened position after movementof said head into engagement with the board surface.

10. A machine for securing knots in lumber which comprises a support forreceiving a board thereupon, a pressure head movably mounted above theupper surface of said support, means for moving said head downwardlyinto engagement with, the upper surface of a board positioned onsaidsupport, a vrecess-inthe lower surface of said 'head for forming anrenclosed chamberA surrounding the Vupper end Vof a knot in said 5,board, a-passage through saidpheadfor conducting cementitiousiillingmaterial into said vchamber, means forA applying pressure to saidfilling materiaL'valve means in said passage lnormally biased to theclosed position, ymeans associated 1,0, with said-.valve for operatingAsaid valveto ythe openedposition after movement of saidf-headintoengagement with thesurfacegof said boardlto close said. chamber, andmeansclosingsaid valve upon initiation of movementfofl said'head awayfrom said board and prior to the opening of said chamber; f v. 1 v 1 f:'11.Y A machine for securing-knots in 'lumberv which comprises asupport, a4 pressure lieadmov-r ably-mounted abovesaid support, means,for Vmov-` ing said head downwardly into engagement with the vvuppersurface -of a :board positioned onisaidV support, a recesszfin the lowersurface ofnsaid head for defining. a chamber-fsurrourldinsr- Ythe lupper' end of a knot in saidgfbQald as said head is moved intoengagement with said board, said recess being defined in part by; acircular knife edged kportion depending. from vthe lower surface ofsaidheadv forpenetrating the,I surface ofthe board around saidknotA soassubstantially, to seal said chamber, a passagethroughsaidghead forconducting cementit-ious filling materialA under pressure to said;chamber,v valve,means ,imsaid passage. normally biased toI the.;` closedposition, means engaged by the upper surface of said board followinginitial engagement of said knife edge therewith for effecting opening ofsaid valve, and

means for closing said valve in advance of complete Withdrawal of saidknife edge from said board surface.

12. A machine for securing knots in lumber which comprises a support, ahead mounted above said support for movement downwardly into engagementwith the upper surface of a board positionedon said support, meansdepending from the lower surface of said head for defining a subflllingmaterial from said source to said passage and chamber, a valve forcontrolling iiow of material from said conduit means to said passage, amotor for effecting downward movement of said head into engagement withsaid board, and

control means for said valve and said motor for effecting firstenergization of said motor and subsequently the opening of said valve.

13. A machine for securing knots in lumber which comprises a support, ahead mounted above said support for movement downwardly toward saidboard, means depending from the lower surface of said head for forming asubstantially sealed chamber between said head and said board, a passagethrough said head communicating with said chamber, a stop valve in saidpassage, means associated with said valve and engaged by said boardafter formation of said sealed chamber for opening said stop valve, amotor for moving said head downwardly on said board, a conduit forsupplying cementitious filling material under pressure to said passage,a control Valve in said conduit, and manual control means for energizingsaid motor and for subsequently effecting opening of said control valve.

14. A machine for securing knots in lumber said headadjacenttlse outeredge thexjeot for formgf any.' enclosed 'chamber `b'etvacex-'r the"lower sxnffsce of said head andtheupperwsurfaeeof said boar' in@surrounding relation with respect to' tl'le-fencf of as-1mm?-IIaxlel-{rark af passagefthrough? saidf-ineadr communmating-A withsare' ferrarese@ y chamber; agnormallyf closed stop" valver saidpassage," af valve actuating stemi fn passage havingan end extendhxgbelow thelower surface of said hea/d, said end of said stemlbeng adaptedto be'engaged' by the uppersurfaceof said bea'ftf for opening sac stopvalve; asrsouzee ofcementftous'flllngmaterfaltaf conmt'extenda ing' fromsaid. source to passage; "means for' transferngvmaterial'from saidsource tafsad! conduit runder; pressure, ankelectron:agnetcalI-y'operafrblecontrol `vzatltfe inE said conduit, amr mam nellyoperablreswitchlmeans far effecting' met the energization of saidservesrnotor and subsequently the opening of said control-valve. l

I5. E machine for IIng' holes and the-like; in Iumberfcomprising asupportfor a pieee-oflum ber'. amember having a' cavity'theren movableInAopposlng/relatonftosad support'wnereby said cavity is v'toseveral-uienclose' 'the end of an; opening-in said piece ef'lurnbel,` means formoving! said memberamirom said support,

complete withdrawal of sadmember fronsengagementwlth saidptece:

' lpparatns forlling holes yanni the liken lumbeswlnchf comprisesconduit meansfor engagng. with a portion: of onev surface ofthe lmn-.ber institu-rounding relatbn with respect tothe corresponding' end Voi'an opening extending through said lumber; means for moving" said' condaft meansinto: engagement with' one surface of said flamber toeect asubstantial seal. between the periphery of said conduit and saidsurface.y meansifor feeding llng material into saclf com duit means,-meansf for applying'. high pressure tofsaidf material to. cause. saldmaterial te llllH said openingyand means forsupportng the surface ofsaint Inn-113er opposite said conduit-means'lncludng' means forrestnctmgthe; flow or'said materfalfrom the op'posite end.' of sai'dopening.

